Diagnosis: Lung Cancer

What Happens Next?

You have just been diagnosed
with lung cancer. The first
thing you must know, and
something you should repeat to yourself
over and over, is there is reason for
hope! Much is being done for people
with lung cancer, and new treatments
are being developed and tested every
day. Of course, you may experience
many strong emotions – it is part of the
process of dealing with your diagnosis.
But a key part of living with lung cancer
is to learn the facts, to stay positive,
to be hopeful, and to remember that lung
cancer can often be treated.

There isn’t one best or easiest way
to live with a diagnosis of lung cancer.
Here are some suggestions for ways
you can live with your diagnosis and
treatment.

Get a second opinion. Arm yourself
with knowledge of all of your options.
If you do not get a recommendation from
your doctor for where to get a second
opinion, consider going to a National
Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive
Cancer Center. These centers are
ideally suited to provide you with the
treatment you need. The experts you
consult may all tell you the same thing,
or they may suggest new options or
clinical trials you may want to consider.
You should start treatment with the confidence
that you have made the best
decision you can.

Arm yourself with knowledge of all of your options.
You should start treatment with the confidence that
you have made the best decision you can.

Become your own best advocate.
Talk with your doctors and nurses. Ask
questions. Ask them to repeat what you
don’t understand. Repeat back to them
what you think you heard and ask them
to confirm that you understood. Be active
in your care and choices. Use a
notebook to keep track of questions you
have and information about your health
and disease, such as your latest test results,
medical reports, and notes. Bring
a family member or friend with you to
all appointments so you can make sure
they heard the same information you did.

Don’t let anyone steal your hope.
There is much that even the experts don’t
understand about lung cancer, especially
how each person will respond to treatment.
Forget or ignore the statistics. They
tell you nothing about what is going to
happen to you. Find doctors who share
your hope for survival and are willing
to fight right along with you.

Make healthy lifestyle changes.
Life will change after any cancer diagnosis,
and living with lung cancer can
be difficult. There are things you can
do to help you deal with the changes
in your life.

If your energy level is affected, plan
rest periods as you need them.

Know what causes you to become
short of breath or experience other symptoms.
Walking may be okay, but walking
uphill may be too tiring.

If you are undergoing chemotherapy
treatments, ask your doctor when you
are likely to have low blood counts and
when they are likely to recover. Plan
lighter activities on days when your
blood counts are lower.

Living with any serious illness causes
mental exhaustion. It’s normal to be
worried, fearful, sad, or anxious. You
may want to ask for counseling or other
help to deal with these feelings. You
may have trouble sleeping. Ask your
doctor for help if you experience long-term
sadness or sleeplessness.

Living with any serious illness causes mental
exhaustion. It’s normal to be worried, fearful,
sad, or anxious.

Take care of yourself. Your body is
undergoing a battle. Arm it with what it
needs to be successful. Eat well, drink
plenty of water, exercise when you are
able, and get enough rest, both at night
and during the day.

Your cancer or your treatment may
affect your ability to be intimate. Talk
about this with your partner, and if necessary,
your doctor or a counselor. Take
time to just be together.

Your Family and Friends
Although you are the one with a diagnosis
of lung cancer, your family and
other loved ones are experiencing it with
you. They are dealing with their own
sadness, fears, and worries. One way for
them to handle their feelings is to try to
take care of you. If possible, allow them
to help you. It is part of their healing
process as well as yours. When it comes
to family and friends, be sure to

Surround yourself with positive and
encouraging people.

Take someone to doctor visits with
you to help listen or take notes.

Accept offers for help. When people
ask, “What can I do?” it is because they
truly want to do something. Allow them
the pleasure and privilege of helping
you. You will be helping them through
this hard time too.

For the Young Person with
Lung Cancer
Most people with lung cancer are
over age 60. However, a large number
of young people, even those under 40,
are diagnosed with this disease. If you
haven’t started or completed your family
and it’s important to you, be sure to
talk with your doctor before you start
treatment about options for preserving
your ability to have children in
the future.

Your body is undergoing a
battle. Arm it with what it
needs to be successful.

Support Groups
Support groups offer a chance to talk
with others going through situations similar
to yours. Yet many people with lung
cancer are not comfortable seeking out
these groups. Some people actually feel
guilty about a diagnosis of lung cancer:
if you have smoked, you may feel that
it is your own “fault” that you got lung
cancer. These negative feelings make
support groups especially important for
you. You must recognize that no one deserves
lung cancer. Support groups also
can help your family and loved ones who
are affected by your illness.

You may find that in the beginning
you come to a group to seek encouragement
and hope but that later you are the
one to offer that same encouragement
and hope to someone else. Many kinds
of support are available.

Ongoing Care
Even if there is no sign of lung cancer
after your treatment is completed,
the fear of the cancer returning is often
on the mind of survivors. You may find
yourself dealing with treatment side
effects, or you may feel the loss of the
attention of your medical team and
support groups. This is a time that can
be difficult: feelings of depression are
not unusual. Many people continue to
find comfort from support groups even
after their treatment has ended. Also,
these groups allow you to share your
experiences with those who are facing
what you have already gone through,
which can be rewarding.

Once your treatment is over, it is also
important that you receive regular followup
care. Visit your doctor as prescribed
to monitor for any return of cancer. The
American Society of Clinical Oncology
recommends that you have follow-up
appointments with your specialist every
three months during the first two years
after treatment, every six months during
years three through five, and yearly after
that. You should feel free to schedule
appointments more frequently if you
are experiencing symptoms that worry
you or have other healthcare concerns.
Ask your physician what symptoms you
should be on the lookout for. Report
them promptly should they occur.